New and looking for Globetrotter experience

[Wudee]

Hi boys and girls,

I am fresh to the GS forum and have to admit that I don't own one! I do ride a K1200R at the moment but only converted after > 10yrs of (super)sports....

Reason for signing up that me and the missus have the faint hope to make a long trip across several continents in the not all too distant future. Somehow everybody does this on a GelaendeStrasse. After reading different posting I am a bit concerned about the built quality. Can you honestly recommend a GS for a 12mths tour, two up + luggage (is there an alternative?). And if so, what spec is important... Enduro pack?, ESA?, Luggage? etc. Looking for some tips and hints before running to any BMW Motorrad shop and handing over a big pile of cash + keys to the K12...

 

[Bryn]

Welcome to the site

You're in the right place to get a few opinions on your questions

 

[elevensies]

howdee

honest answer

buy a 1150 gsa, get a later one with low miles (prob pay about 6 ish grand) do your tour, come back sell it for about what you paid. buy another.

buy a 1200gs, get one with low miles, take your chance, come back and buy the 1150gsa you should have bought

or
buy a 1200gsa, pay upwards of 10 grand, ride it until it it rides no more.

harry

 

[Wudee]

Would certainly be going for the GSA just for the bigger tank. I struggle with the idea of going RTW on a 6y old bike and find 2nd hand 1200 GSA on the pricey side compared to new. BUT the attractions of bigger tank, shaft drive, factory fitted luggage etc. does draw me to the Beamer. Plus I really don't know what other bike would take 2 people + luggage on such a trip.

 

[elevensies]

why do you struggle with the idea of taking a 6 yr old bike around the world? hell people do it on 30 yr old bikes, and honestly there are lots and lots of bikes that will take you, pillion and luggage in comfort 10 times around the world.
people traveled on bikes before the bmw gs

anyway, without sounding condescending

i guess you saw the euan and charlie thing then?

first time they were on 1150's ya no

 

[Canuck]

You can do better than factory luggage as well... check out the rogue welder who goes by the name of vern... he can sort you out! Just do a search for worldbeater panniers.

Good luck with the trip!

 

[motobiker]

ERE.. all my 10 year old needs to cross the continent is a set of Tourances and an oil change.

 

[JohnnyBoxer]

howdee

honest answer

buy a 1150 gsa, get a later one with low miles (prob pay about 6 ish grand) do your tour, come back sell it for about what you paid. buy another.

buy a 1200gs, get one with low miles, take your chance, come back and buy the 1150gsa you should have bought

or
buy a 1200gsa, pay upwards of 10 grand, ride it until it it rides no more.

harry

You forgot 1 thing, Harry

You never mentioned the 1100GS

 

[Big Nick]

Any bike you take RTW can have the potential to crap on you if you get a terminal failure in a remote 3rd world area. There's also the chance of an accident ending your trip early. My GSA was heavily damaged in an accident going to work but amazingly it would of still of got me home (if I'd not been too injured to ride it!) so they are tough bikes.

Buy what you want, research common faults with the bike you buy and be prepared should these happen (obviously taking a spare final drive may present problems!!)

You'll be able to get the bike home if it breaks but it may be expensive, the GS range is as good as anything else out there.

 

[how much for a service!]

Hi
Just came back from a trip from Alaska to south america
I went for the 1150GS ADV my amigo a 1200gs (a little vertically chalanged!)
but we met up with guys on vstroms, KLrs, ural outfits and even one guy on a 1942 WLA harley! and the last I heard they were all still going.
And dont think you need every possible touratech extra, we met an old guy
up the dalton highway on a 80s R100s, leather saddle bags no modern riding gear, standard road tyres which had seen better days,and when we asked him how he managed on the dirt roads he said you just have to ride the bike.
We travelled with a couple for a few weeks who are away for a year on their 1200gs adv If you PM me I will let you have their blog site and maybe meet up for a chat
cheers

 

[Wudee]

thanks guys for all this useful information. Guess won't need to get the enduro option with the shorter 1st gear and knobblies either. I am going to wait for the 2010 model to arrive if I like it otherwise a well maintained secondhand might very well be the way to go.

 

[elevensies]

You forgot 1 thing, Harry

You never mentioned the 1100GS

i no mate, but i think the guy wouldnt know a class bike if it fell on him, 2010 bike

all show

 

[elevensies]

Hi
Just came back from a trip from Alaska to south america
I went for the 1150GS ADV my amigo a 1200gs (a little vertically chalanged!)
but we met up with guys on vstroms, KLrs, ural outfits and even one guy on a 1942 WLA harley! and the last I heard they were all still going.
And dont think you need every possible touratech extra, we met an old guy
up the dalton highway on a 80s R100s, leather saddle bags no modern riding gear, standard road tyres which had seen better days,and when we asked him how he managed on the dirt roads he said you just have to ride the bike.
We travelled with a couple for a few weeks who are away for a year on their 1200gs adv If you PM me I will let you have their blog site and maybe meet up for a chat
cheers

well there you go all sorts of bikes

well done matey, sounds like a good trip

 

[twizzle]

some peeps like 1100

Some peeps like 1150

Some peeps like 1150GSA

Some peeps like 1200

Some peeps like 1200GSA

Some Peeps like 1200GSA MY2010.......

Some Peeps even like the 800...... ( but like Britney Spears with brown hair, not quite right....)

Life just moves on..... get what you fancy/can afford/feel comfortable with!

Thats the right one!.....

 

[ahutcheon]

Guess won't need to get the enduro option with the shorter 1st gear and knobblies either.

If I was going round the world 2-up I'd go for the shorter 1st gear if I had a choice, but it's not an essential. I'd also fit knobblies if I was mostly off tarmac, but you'll be wearing tyres out anyway so you can take that as it comes.

Actually, depending on where I was heading, I'd consider a much smaller and lighter bike because if it gets wet and muddy you'll be stuck before too long on a loaded 1150/1200 whatever the tyres...

 

[Twit!]

For a RTW trip 2 up then the GS would be great, but to be honest when you get outside of Europe any bike will do.

You will need to decide roughly where you want to go and that will feed into the choice of bike, e.g. if you want to go to India you will need a full on carnet, the price of a carnet on a nearly new GS isnt cheap as carnets are linked to the market value of the bike.

Plenty of people have done the trip on older bikes and if you go through places such as Iran and Pakistan its actually easier to find parts for the older bikes, in Iran I came across a place that was well stocked with pre 79 BMW parts but it wasnt that easy to find new parts outside of Tehran. Basically pick the route and then pick the bike. The GS is a great bike - I have 2, a R100 and an 800GS, but dont fall easily for the hype, any other bike will get you round just as well!

 

[illustratedman]

Bikes

I've got an1150 gsa and touch wood it's never let me down so far. If i was doing a long trip i'd rip out the servo and go back to standard brakes but saying that that the brakes have never given me cause for concern but they are an unneeded complication. My mates got an yam fjr and I'd happily take that as well, shaft drive etc and probably more pillion friendly but it hasnt got the off road ability obviously. You pays your money etc.

One thing with the gs once you get used to its quirks i've not found a bike i enjoy riding as much. The 1150 at least has a little bit of soul you dont tend to get with jap bikes. Also i'd say the 1150/1100 are easy to work on if your half decent with a spanner more so than most bikes i reckon.

I've not ridden or owned a 1200 they just dont do it for me and like you i may have formed an opinion about their reliability over the years of bad reports on here. But bear in mind you dont tend to hear about the good bikes and they have sold in more volume than the earlier models.
My mate has an 800 and has had no problems with it offroading a couple of trip to the pyrenees and used as daily transport. I spoke to a guy with one the other day and it broke down twice on him in spain and was brought back on a trailer, just get what you fancy ride it and what will be wil be.

 

[Captain GSA]

I had an 1150GSA .... loved it ...but had to sell it ....

I then bought a 1200GSA ... loved it-but not as much as an 1150 GSA ... sold it ....

I know own 'The Tank' ... an 1150GSA with a large TT 41 litre tank ... I'm in love again ...

Bikes are bikes ... Beemers are just better - any one will do ...... you get good ones and bad ... luck of the draw ... but the panniers question is easy ... don't go for the BMW factory fitted 1200 ones ... IMHO - they are $hit£ ....

Ride safe ....

 

[Wudee]

As I quite like the look of a 1200GSA I think that is going to be the one (already posted the K12R up for sale in the other section!). Now the question is what spec to go for. Your remark about the BMW panniers is much appreciated. Problem is the rack comes with the premium packages that also has ESA in it which I would like. Do you know if there are aftermarket cases that fit perfectly on the oem rack?

 

[Deleted Member I]

As I quite like the look of a 1200GSA I think that is going to be the one (already posted the K12R up for sale in the other section!). Now the question is what spec to go for. Your remark about the BMW panniers is much appreciated. Problem is the rack comes with the premium packages that also has ESA in it which I would like. Do you know if there are aftermarket cases that fit perfectly on the oem rack?

Haven't they still got the free panniers offers for a new bike??